Category Archives: gift ideas

get gifting: the foodie

For the friend who reads cookbooks like they’re novels, thinks Dean & Deluca is the mother ship, and is always dragging you to the new fusion restaurant in town or making you her guinea pig for the secret ingredient du jour (this month, I hear it’s harissa).

Foodies rarely need an excuse to party, but a subscription to a champagne club should secure your seat at his next dinner party. Henri’s Reserve champagne club, from $600
Who isn’t chasing the next best caffeine fix? For tea drinkers, Harney & Sons makes my favorite holiday blend – warm and cozy, with just a hint of holiday spice. And for coffee lovers, choose a bag or two from Ristretto Roasters (based here in Portland) – it’s simply the best I’ve had. Holiday black tea blend, Harney & Sons, $15; Ristretto Roasters, from $14 for 12 oz
Nothing transforms ordinary cooking faster than good salt and great olive oil. Get them one of each, and they’ll eat well all year (or until they run out). Olive Oil – 2011 Blend, McEvoy Ranch, from $22; Finishing salt starter set, The Meadow, $38
I’m always looking for rectangular bakers in just the right size – this set gives you all the options you’ll need. 3-piece potluck baker set, Crate & Barrel, $30
Maybe more of a stocking stuffer than a full-fledged gift, but I’m on a perpetual quest to find the perfect spoon. These two are high on my wish list this year. Silicone batter whisk, Tovolo, $12; Acacia wood paddle, Michael Ruhlman, $25
Vosges Haut Chocolat is the gold standard for foodie treats. Their exotic truffles are perfect for a gourmet, but my heart belongs to the Toffee Trifecta hat box, packed with 3 varieties (including bacon caramel!). Vosges Toffee Trifecta, $58 and Exotic Truffles, from $26
A cookbook is a no-brainer gift for a foodie, but you need one that suits their style to a T. For casual home cooks, I love me some Paula Deen, but hardcore food lovers will be more enamored of Michael Ruhlman’s latest. Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible, $17; Ruhlman’s Twenty, by Michael Ruhlman, $22
Hands down, the most stylish way I’ve ever seen to BYOB. Felt wine tote, Graf+Lantz, $79
Adapted from an illustration in a 1927 Parisian book on wine appreciation, this apron is the perfect addition to any foodie’s kitchen. L’Art du Vin apron, The Met Store, $30
Foodies are forever chasing the “next big thing” in culinary creativity. A set of exotic spices will get their creative juices flowing, and keep them ahead of the pack. Spice kits, Williams-Sonoma, from $40

1 Comment

Share 'get gifting: the foodie' on Facebook

Share 'get gifting: the foodie' on Google+

Share 'get gifting: the foodie' on Pinterest

Share 'get gifting: the foodie' on Twitter

Share 'get gifting: the foodie' on Email

friday finds: for mom

Mom, you’re officially banned from reading this! Move along…

…

Anyway. Friends, I’m feeling so behind this year – I can’t believe it’s already nearly Mother’s Day! More importantly, I haven’t nabbed my mom a gift for Mother’s Day yet. So, as I wander the world wide web searching for ideas, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite finds, just in case you’re in the same boat. A note, though: I’m skipping jewelry this year. I feel I’ve tapped that well too many times. Plus, it’s just not hard to find a mom-friendly necklace…you don’t need my help with that.

These gorgeous candles are a collaboration between Jo Malone and the work of legendary interior designer David Hicks. I’m in love with each of the scents, as I always am with Jo Malone fragrances, but it’s really the packaging that shines here. Best of all, they come in a box so beautifully pulled together, gift-wrapping would just be gilding the lily.

{Jo Malone limited edition David Hicks candles, $65 each}

And, as long as we’re talking gorgeous patterns, I’ve fallen pretty hard for Jonathan Adler’s new Carnaby collection. The collection includes mugs and serving trays that are all pretty wonderful, but I’m especially fond of these vases. They’d be particularly lovely presented with a big bunch of peonies or tulips inside.

{Jonathan Adler Carnaby collection vase, $68}

What mom can’t use another tote? These are a couple I’m loving at the moment. The cotton twill is a perfect weekend/market/go-anywhere bag, but that leather travel tote? It’s destined to be your mom’s new favorite…I’m sure of it.

{Jesse Kamm classic tote, $135}

{Clava Bags leather travel tote, $220}

In the category of the sentimental, I love the idea of finding an art print that reminds you of a special memory you and your mom share. For me, a lot of my best memories with my mom are of traveling together. So, I’m thinking of a print that would help us both remember a city we explored on a girls’ trip.

{London or Paris print by Blanca Gomez, $30; Portland, Oregon print by JHill Design, starting at $25}

One of my most treasured possessions is my grandmother’s recipe box. Every sauce-stained card is a dear memory, and the box holds a prize spot in my kitchen. If your mom’s cooking is second to none, I love the idea of surprising her with this gorgeous recipe box, complete with letterpress recipe cards and dividers. It’s a splurge, but it’s not something you replace.

{Charles Fradin letterpress recipe card set & box, $100 ($80 this weekend, with code FRIEND3)}

And of course, if all else fails, beauty products are always a sure hit with moms – they’re often something she’d never treat herself to. The new Citrina fragrance sets from Space NK are a favorite of mine – the clean, light citrus scent is the perfect thing for spring. You can pick up pieces from the line starting at $12 for the beautifully-wrapped glycerin soap (I love the idea of wrapping a trio of them in twine for giving).

{Citrina body care fragrance set by Space NK, $58 (or $30 without eau de toilette); Citrina glycerin soaps, $12 each}

Yes, I think there’s a winner here…for my mom, at least. Have you picked out your Mother’s Day gift yet?

1 Comment

Share 'friday finds: for mom' on Facebook

Share 'friday finds: for mom' on Google+

Share 'friday finds: for mom' on Pinterest

Share 'friday finds: for mom' on Twitter

dear santa…

dear santa,

i’ve been a very good girl this year, doing my best to boost the economy, and to help everyone make out their christmas lists and check them twice. so before you whisk off in your sleigh, i thought i should send along a list of a few things i’m hoping to find under my own tree!

it will come as no shock to you that an inhabit sweater is first on my list – you know how i love them. but combine my favorite grey cashmere with a cardigan, and zigzag detail besides? i’m utterly smitten, santa. (but i might need a size smaller than usual.)

i’ve been positively pining over these lily and lionel scarves. it’s incredibly hard to choose between Paris by Day and Paris by Night, so i’ll leave the choice to you, santa dear.

it’s not exciting, but i could definitely use a tan trench…and since burberry’s tan is entirely the wrong shade for my pale skin, i’m thinking this apc version just might be the perfect solution. bonus, santa: it’s on sale!

i am still in serious need of weather-friendly shoes. while i can’t put my finger on exactly what i’m after here, a few ideas to help you along, santa: the morricone booties in green, the alberto fermani short boot, the cole haan air daughtry, or, possibly the favorite, the rachel comey mars boot.

as you know, i’ve been on the hunt for a striped sweater to replace my beloved h&m version that’s so badly in need of retirement. this one from vince would be a lovely step up, santa.

and santa, i swoon every time i spy these lovely little triangle stud earrings, though i know i’ll never splurge on them for myself.

last, of course, santa, i know you need some ideas for stocking stuffers as well. so i can tell you i’d absolutely love this michelle armas calendar, a subscription to anthology magazine, and a re-stock of my favorite face scrub.

enjoy the cookies i baked for you, and give rudolph a pat on the head from me. merry christmas, santa!

my kind of DIY

for those of you that have spied me moonlighting over at shelterrific this year, you’ll know i’ve been taking on a bit of DIY goodness this season. since i’m feeling all warm and crafty inside, i couldn’t resist sharing this fun sale happening at rue la la today. several different “make your own” companies have banded together and are selling some excellent customized wares for the holidays. you can make a laptop case with a custom design or photo, custom chocolate bars, or – my favorite – design a necklace with your favorite gems, style, and metal from gemkitty. getting all the credit for handmade gifts, without the mess, unexpected expenses, and endless trips to michael’s? priceless.

oh, did i forget to mention the custom, organic beef jerky? because nothing would say ‘happy holidays’ to the man in my life quite like a big bag of custom-created dried meats. (sadly, i’m not being ironic or sarcastic.)

get gifting: the gourmand

at first glance, the gourmand might look a bit like a martha’s apprentice, but don’t be deceived. this girl doesn’t care a bit about how glam her house looks for the holidays, or whether her ‘winter fir’ candle blends perfectly with her cinnamon-scented pine cones. no, this is the friend that only has eyes for the holiday’s best eats. she knows her himalayan pink from her smoked gray sea salt, swirls her wine with finesse, and welcomes her “food snob” label with a smile.

left to right, from top: oneida cia cookware 7-ply clad copper saute pan, $140; vosges haut chocolate holiday gift box (eggnog truffles and gingerbread toffee…need i say more?), $86; harney & sons red gift box (you’ll want this set just for the hot cinnamon spice tea), $29; salt and pepper cellars by rae dunn, $44; james beard’s american cookery (just re-released), $23; moonstruck chocolate crescent moon truffle collection, $33; food network magazine subscription (my personal favorite), $15/year; magnetic spice kit from purpose design, $33+, 479 popcorn foodie sampler, $35.

{FTC disclaimer: some product samples were provided to help me compile this guide, but as usual, there’s no pay-for-play here.}

get gifting: stuff that stocking

if you’re stumped for stocking stuffers this year (or every year, as i am), here’s a list of a few goodies sure to make santa very popular on christmas morning! incidentally, these also work very nicely as last-minute, low-cost gifts for all of those people you accidentally forgot to buy for. if i were smarter, i’d follow my own advice from last year, and have a few of these on hand for gifting emergencies.

left to right, from top: moonstruck chocolates penguin & snowman collection, $16; la mer lip balm, $45; foot petals holiday limited edition, $7+; baggu/no.6 reusable shopping bags, $12; patrick hruby memory game (for the tykes, obviously, but it’s beautiful), $13; jin soon holiday nails collection, $56.

2 Comments

Share 'get gifting: stuff that stocking' on Facebook

Share 'get gifting: stuff that stocking' on Google+

Share 'get gifting: stuff that stocking' on Pinterest

Share 'get gifting: stuff that stocking' on Twitter

Share 'get gifting: stuff that stocking' on Email

get gifting: geek chic

this entire gift guide is dedicated to a dear friend of mine who is always more interested in reading wired than vogue, happily lines up for the latest “must-have” from apple, and never goes anywhere with less than 3 gadgets in her immediate vicinity. if you know a girl (or, for that matter, a guy) who fits that description, something tells me any of these goodies will make their eyes light up with glee on christmas morning.

left to right, from top: belkin mini surge protector with usb charger, $25; jawbone jambox wireless speaker and hands-free speakerphone, $200; ge create camera by jason wu, with leather accent (oh how i want this one!), $200; powersupport iphone cases by tibi and rachel pally, $55; ferragamo ipad case, order at 800.628.8916, $390; tantrum-throwing alarm clock, $50.

{FTC disclaimer: some product samples were provided to help me compile this guide, but as usual, there’s no pay-for-play here.}

1 Comment

Share 'get gifting: geek chic' on Facebook

Share 'get gifting: geek chic' on Google+

Share 'get gifting: geek chic' on Pinterest

Share 'get gifting: geek chic' on Twitter

get gifting: martha’s apprentice

if your friend can always be counted on to arrive at the party toting an immaculate 3-layer cake, if you envy her impeccable housekeeping every time you stop by, and if you’re still secretly hoping for an invite to her home for the holidays, you have a martha’s apprentice on your hands. but never fear: they’re easy to gift! show up with anything that will make her perfect little haven even the tiniest bit more idyllic, and you’re sure to please.

(incidentally, these ideas all make excellent hostess gifts as well…in case you’re tired of showing up with flowers or wine to every holiday fete you attend.)

Burn_GoldHinokiTemple